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To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Baidu Jieduan Granules (BDJDG) to treat common type coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).This multicenter, retrospective, and observational clinical trial included 230 common COVID-19 patients in Leishenshan, Huangshi, and Laohekou Hospitals in Wuhan from January 21 to March 26, 2020. The included patients were further divided into two subgroups according to the use of supplemental oxygen, mild and moderate groups. During the first 14 d of hospitalization, all patients were administered BDJDG combined with conventional Western medicine, and observed for continuous 28 d. Primary outcomes were disease progression rate and discharge rate. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion time of nucleic acid, hospitalization duration, clinical symptom subsidence time, and symptom regression rate.A total of 230 common COVID-19 patients were analyzed (138 in moderate group and 92 in mild group). By day 28, the disease progression rate was 4.3% and the discharge rate was 95.7%. All mild cases recovered and were discharged from hospital. The median negative conversion time of nucleic acid of all 230 COVID-19 patients was 12 d [inter-quartile range (IQR) 3.5-17], the median hospitalization duration was 15 d (IQR 12-20). The median time to fever, cough, and fatigue recovery was 4 d (IQR 2-6), 8 d (IQR 5-12), and 8 d (IQR 5-11). The recovery rate of fever, cough, and fatigue was 94.6%, 90.5%, and 93.5%. The median time to clinical improvement was 12 d (IQR 10-17). Compared with the baseline, total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, and platelet counts were increased significantly on days 7 and 14 (P0.01). C-reactive protein markedly increased on day 3 and significantly decreased on days 7 and 14 (P0.01). No serious adverse events occurred during treatment.BDJDG may be effective and safe for treatment of common type COVID-19. (Registration No. ChiCTR2000030836).

Objective: To systematically evaluate the incidence of adverse reactions to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP Database from the inception of each database to August 31, 2021. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on the safety of different types of COVID-19 vaccines were retrieved and analyzed. A random or fixed-effects model was used with an odds ratio as the effect size. The quality of each reference was evaluated. The incidence of the adverse reactions of the placebo group and the vaccination group was compared. Heterogeneity and publication bias were taken care of by meta-regression and sub-group analyses. Results: A total of 13 articles were included, with 81 287 subjects. Compared with the placebo group, the vaccination group showed a higher combined risk ratio (RR) of total adverse reactions (RR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.46-1.91, P

The composition of cell contacts in the endometrium plays an important role in the process of embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. In previous studies, we showed an induction of the tight junction protein claudin-3 in the developing decidua from day 6.5 of pregnancy onward. To evaluate the role of this specific claudin-3 distribution, we here evaluated the effect of an endometrial claudin-3 deletion in implantation and embryo development in claudin-3 knockout mice. Claudin-3 knockout mice were fertile but revealed a slightly reduced amount of implantation sites as well as of litter size. Though implantation sites showed morphologically regularly developed embryos and deciduas, depth of ectoplacental cone invasion was reduced in tendency compared to controls. The weight of the implantation sites on day 6.5 and 8.5 of pregnancy as well as the weight of the embryos on day 17.5 of pregnancy, but not of the placentas, was significantly reduced in claudin-3 knockout mice due to a maternal effect. This could be due to an impairment of decidualization as substantiated by a downregulation of the transcription of various decidua-associated genes in the early implantation sites of claudin-3 knockout mice. The fact that claudin-3 knockout mice are nevertheless fertile possibly may be compensated by the presence of other claudins like claudin-4 and claudin-10.

Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are expected to have a worse prognosis than mild cases. Shenhuang Granule (SHG) has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for severe COVID-19 in a previous randomized clinical trial, but the active chemical constituents and underlying mechanisms of action remain unknown. The goal of this study is to explore the chemical basis and mechanisms of SHG in the treatment of severe COVID-19, using network pharmacology.Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was employed to screen chemical constituents of SHG. Putative therapeutic targets were predicted by searching traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology database and analysis platform, SwissTargetPrediction, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The target protein-protein interaction network and enrichment analysis were performed to investigate the hub genes and presumptive mechanisms. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to verify the stability and interaction between the key chemical constituents of SHG and COVID-19 protein targets.Forty-five chemical constituents of SHG were identified along with 131 corresponding therapeutic targets, including hub genes such as HSP90AA1, MMP9, CXCL8, PTGS2, IFNG, DNMT1, TYMS, MDM2, HDAC3 and ABCB1. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that SHG mainly acted on the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway and cAMP signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the key constituents had a good affinity with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 protein targets. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that ginsenoside Rg4 formed a stable protein-ligand complex with helicase.Multiple components of SHG regulated multiple targets to inhibit virus invasion and cytokine storm through several signaling pathways; this provides a scientific basis for clinical applications and further experiments.

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used fast-acting pyridine herbicide. Accidental ingestion or self-administration via various routes can cause severe organ damage. Currently, no effective antidote is available commercially, and the mortality rate of poisoned patients is exceptionally high. Here, the efficacy of anthrahydroquinone-2-6-disulfonate (AH2QDS) was observed in treating PQ poisoning by constructing in vivo and ex vivo models. We then explored the detoxification mechanism of AH2QDS. We demonstrated that, in a rat model, the PQ concentration in the PQ + AH2QDS group significantly decreased compared to the PQ only group. Additionally, AH2QDS protected the mitochondria of rats and A549 cells and decreased oxidative stress damage, thus improving animal survival and cell viability. Finally, the differentially expressed genes were analysed in the PQ + AH2QDS group and the PQ group by NextGen sequencing, and we verified that Nrf2’s expression in the PQ + AH2QDS group was significantly higher than that in the PQ group. Our work identified that AH2QDS can detoxify PQ by reducing PQ uptake and protecting mitochondria while enhancing the body's antioxidant activity.

Background: Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) can produce a variety of cytokine during inflammation, causing changes in the components of the extracellular matrix, which are related to airway remodeling. Midkine (MK) can promote the chemotaxis of various inflammatory cells and release inflammatory factors. Whether Notch and Midkine together affect the proliferation and apoptosis of airway smooth muscle cells is unclear.Objective: To study the mechanism of Midkine on LPS-induced acute lung injury caused by airway smooth muscle cells.Methods: Airway smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro and divided into 5 groups: control group, lipopolysaccharide group (LPS), Non-targeted siRNA group, MKsiRNA group, Notch inhibitor group (LY411575). The cell proliferation level was detected by CCK-8. The apoptosis level was detected by flow cytometry. The changes of cytokine in the Midkine/Notch2 signaling pathway were detected by Westernblot, qPCR and cellular immunofluorescence.Results: Midkine and Notch2 were highly expressed in the LPS group. MKsiRNA can effectively block the expression of Midkine induced by LPS while down-regulating the expression of Notch2. This result is the same as that of Notch inhibitor (LY411575). Exogenous Midkine promoted the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and reduced the rate of apoptosis in the LPS group. When the expression of Midkine was blocked, the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells in the LPS group was significantly reduced, while apoptosis increased. Inhibiting the expression of Notch, the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells in the LPS group decreased, and apoptosis increased.Conclusions: Midkine/Notch2 signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis in airway inflammation.

The arsenic in livestock wastewater would induce adverse impact on the biological treatment technology such as anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play an important role in resisting such toxicity. Unfortunately, the role of EPS in protecting anammox from As(III) and the mechanisms underlying the protection still remains unclear. This work comprehensively evaluated the acute toxicity of arsenic on anammox sludge and investigated the binding property and interaction mechanism. The results revealed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of As(III) on anammox sludge was estimated to be 408 mg L−1, which decreased to 41.97 mg L−1 when EPS was exfoliated. Complexation and hydrophobic interactions were the leading forces in preventing arsenic invasion. Protein was the main component that complexes with As(III), and O–H, –NH, –C O were binding sites. The response sequence of organic component in EPS to As(III) was ordered as hydrocarbons-proteins-polysaccharides-aliphatic amines.

The aim of this study was to simulate the surface wear of graphite components in a pebble-bed nuclear reactor caused by the moving fuel balls and, thus, to help evaluate the integrity of the whole graphite structures over their service life. To this end, wear tests were conducted on the chewing machine with a specially designed load jig. The test specimens included graphite plates and graphite spheres, to represent the graphite bricks and fuel spheres, respectively. The main parameters, including volume loss of graphite plates and spheres, micro-morphology of the wear surface and weight and particle size of graphite dust generated, were studied in this work.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process exhibits advantages in treating high-ammonium livestock wastewater, while the anammox bacteria is vulnerable to heavy metal and antibiotics. Arsenic and sulfonamides extensively existed in livestock wastewater; unfortunately, their effects on the anammox process have not yet been investigated. This work comprehensively evaluated the single and joint effects of As(III) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on the anammox process and revealed the related inhibitory mechanism. Anammox had extraordinary resistance to As(III) stress (0–50 mg L−1), while nitrogen removal sharply deteriorated under the stress from 50 mg L−1 As(III) and 3 mg L−1 SMX. Exogenous As(III) damaged the protection of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and aggravated the inhibition of SMX. As(III) had direct toxic effects on anammox bacteria, while enhanced denitrifying capacity was the reason for inhibition of anammox by SMX. Moreover, the host arsenic resistance genes were changed under SMX inhibition. The findings of this study enrich our knowledge of the anammox response to various pollutants, and provide the operational guidance for anammox process to treat wastewater containing antibiotic and heavy metal.

Nickel-based alloys have been considered as candidate structural materials used in generation IV nuclear reactors serving at high temperatures. In the present study, alloy 617 was irradiated with 180-keV helium ions to a fluence of 3.6 × 1017 ions/cm2 at room temperature. Throughout the cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image, numerous over-pressurized helium bubbles in spherical shape are observed with the actual concentration profile a little deeper than the SRIM predicted result. Post-implantation annealing was conducted at 700 °C for 2 h to investigate the bubble evolution. The long-range migration of helium bubbles occurred during the annealing process, which makes the bubbles of the peak region transform into a faceted shape as well. Then the coarsening mechanism of helium bubbles at different depths is discussed and related to the migration and coalescence (MC) mechanism. With the diffusion of nickel atoms slowed down by the alloy elements, the migration and coalescence of bubbles are suppressed in alloy 617, leading to a better helium irradiation resistance.

Curcumin( Cur) is a natural active substance extracted from the roots or tubers of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities on brain diseases. Due to the poor stability,low solubility,poor absorption and low bioavailability of curcumin,N-acetyl-L-cysteine( NAC) was used as an absorption enhancer and mixed with curcumin to improve the absorption of curcumin in the body. In this paper,curcumin was smashed by airflow pulverization,and Cur-NAC mixtures were prepared by being grinded with liquid. Then,the raw material and the product were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry( DSC),X-ray diffraction( XRD) for structural characterization. The dissolution was determined by high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) analysis. The characteristic peaks of the samples prepared by grinding method were similar to those of the raw materials,while the melting temperature and the accumulated dissolution degree were not significantly changed. The crystal forms of the products were not changed,and no new crystal form was formed after grinding. After the administration of intranasal powder,blood samples were collected from the orbit,while the whole brain tissues were removed from the skull and dissected into 10 anatomical regions. The concentrations of curcumin in these samples were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The concentrations of curcumin in plasma and brain were compared at different time points. After intranasal administration of two drugs,it was found that the concentration of curcumin after sniffing up the mixtures in plasma was high,and the concentration of the drug in the olfactory bulb,hippocampus,and pons was increased significantly. Within 0. 083-0. 5 h,the olfactory bulb,piriform lobe and hippocampus remained high concentrations,the endodermis,striatum,hypothalamus and midbrain reached high concentrations within 1-3 h; and the cerebellum,pons and brain extension maintained relatively high concentrations within 3-7 h. The experiment showed that nasal administration of Cur-NAC mixtures can significantly improve the bioavailability of curcumin,and lead to significant differences in brain tissue distribution.

The microstructure and molten salt impregnation characteristics of a micro-fine grain isotropic graphite ZXF-5Q from Poco Inc. was investigated. The microstructural characteristics of the pores caused by gas evolution, calcination cracks, Mrozowski cracks, and the crystal structure were characterized by optical microscopy, mercury porosimetry, helium pycnometry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Results show that the ZXF-5Q has uniformly-distributed pores caused by gas evolution with very small entrance diameters (∼0.4 μm), and numerous lenticular Mrozowski cracks. Molten salt impregnation with a molten eutectic fluoride salt at 650 °C and 1, 3 and 5 atm, indicate that ZXF-5Q could not be infiltrated even at 5 atm due to its very small pore entrance diameter. Some scattered global salt particles found inside the ZXF-5Q are possibly formed by condensation of the fluoride salt steam during cooling.

Allene oxide synthase (AOS), which is a cytochrome P450 (CYP74A), catalyses the first step in the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid from lipoxygenase-derived hydroperoxides of free fatty acids. The full-length cDNA of an AOS-like gene was cloned from Brassica oleracea using rapid amplification of cDNA ends and was designated as BoAOS. The BoAOS expression level was higher in alabastrums and flowers than in other tissues of cabbage, as determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To characterize the BoAOS gene, Arabidopsis was transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens with a vector to express the gene under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, CaMV35S (Cauliflower Mosaic Virus). Based on analyses of tolerance to drought stress, compared with control plants, the overexpression of BoAOS in transgenic plants increased the endogenous jasmonic acid level and conferred higher tolerance to drought stress. Therefore, we suggest that BoAOS may be a suitable candidate gene ...

The secretion of organic acid anions from roots is an important mechanism for plant aluminum (Al) tolerance. Here we report cloning and characterizing BoMATE (KF031944), a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family gene from cabbage (Brassica oleracea). The expression of BoMATE was more abundant in roots than in shoots, and it was highly induced by Al treatment. The (14)C-citrate efflux experiments in oocytes demonstrated that BoMATE is a citrate transporter. Electrophysiological analysis and SIET analysis of Xenopus oocytes expressing BoMATE indicated BoMATE is activated by Al. Transient expression of BoMATE in onion epidermal cells demonstrated that it localized to the plasma membrane. Compared with the wild-type Arabidopsis, the transgenic lines constitutively overexpressing BoMATE enhanced Al tolerance and increased citrate secretion. In addition, Arabidopsis transgenic lines had a lower K(+) efflux and higher H(+) efflux, in the presence of Al, than control wild type in the distal elongation zone (DEZ). This is the first direct evidence that MATE protein is involved in the K(+) and H(+) flux in response to Al treatment. Taken together, our results show that BoMATE is an Al-induced citrate transporter and enhances aluminum tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Using the finite element ANSYS workbench platform Hydrodynamic Diffraction and Hydrodynamic Time Response Module, taking a self-elevating offshore mooring location as a study case for the corresponding value calculated the dynamic response of the platform. Studied in the wind, waves and currents under load, platforms and mooring ropes coupled motion in case of time-domain response analysis, and get mooring ropes mooring and platform displacement force-time curve. Methods discussed in this paper have a certain reference value for offshore platform mooring positioning.

The article analyses the yacht navigation attitude in the navigation process based on ЦАГИ method. It solves RANS equations in the CFD softwareFluent based on VOF method, combined with RNG k model. It calculates numerical simulation on four yachts which have same dimension but different lateral inclination angle and analyses the flow field, then verify the relationship between the yacht sailing resistance and the changes of lateral inclination angle.

Eco-compensation for Coastal Principal Function Zoning (CPFZ) is a novel and important research topic. This paper chooses the coastal area of Xiamen Bay as the study area, and attempts to research on the eco-compensation under the framework of CPFZ. At first, the paper discusses the connotation of eco-compensation for CPFZ, and points out that the main consideration should be given to two aspects: the compensation for losses of coastal ecosystem services caused by the leading industry, and the compensation for losses of the restricted or prohibited industries due to the leading industry priority. Then, based on the framework of CPFZ in Xiamen Bay, this article estimates the losses of ecosystem services caused by the leading industries and the corresponding eco-compensation amount, as well as the losses of the restricted or prohibited industries and the reference amount of the claim, using the valuation of ecosystem services combined with the expert judgment method, and the market price method, respectively. Finally, the compensation approaches and the relevant policy are suggested. This work will be helpful to promote the operability of CPFZ and provide reference for further related researches.

The heat transfer tube bundles of the steam generator in high temperature reactor pebble bed module (HTR-PM) are subjected to high speed helium flow, which might lead to vortex-induced vibration (VIV). In the present paper, to investigate the vibration of square cylinder under flow effect, vortex shedding phenomena of a stationary square cylinder at a high Reynolds number equal to 6.8 × 104 is simulated by detached eddy simulation (DES) turbulence models. A comparatively close agreement with previous experimental results is achieved. Combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structural dynamics (CSD) methods, a fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) model for VIV of the square cylinder is then established, and vibration response perpendicular to flow direction were investigated. Moreover, the safe range of the natural frequency of the square cylinder to avoid synchronized vibration with VIV is analyzed. The results of this paper can provide an important guidance to the design of the heat transfer tubes and their supports in HTR-PM.

The movable coil electromagnet drive mechanism (MCEDM) is a new drive scheme for the reactor control rod, and it has a simple structure, good security and reliability property, etc. MCEDM with an air cooled structure has been used in the land research reactor. In order to apply MCEDM to the mobile reactor, experimental and theoretical study on the electromagnet with an oil-water cooled structure and a single magnetic flux circuit (called the type A electromagnet) has been completed. It is proven by the experiment and theory that the oil-water cooled structure is an excellent measure to increase the coil current of MCEDM. Moreover, a type B electromagnet with an oil-water cooled structure and double magnetic flux circuits is designed to further increase the magnetic force of MCEDM. The analysis of finite element method shows that the type B electromagnet could double the saturation current of type A electromagnet and the magnetic force of type B electromagnet is greater than that of the type A electromagne...

Sustainable development of resource-based enterprises is dynamic, open and complex system involving five subsystems: resource, economy, society, environment, technology, and management level. Three are various fields related to its study, including enterprise management, resource management, ecology, environmental science, demography, engineering, economics, and sociology. The inherent complexity and cross-disciplinary characteristics of sustainable development make the study of evaluation method for sustainable development of resource-based enterprises an extremely difficult task. The paper analyzes methods and models of indicators for screening, weight determining, and quantitative and comprehensive evaluation for studies of evaluation of sustainable development. At the same time, this paper figures out noted that exploration of new methods and new models and comparing study of the original methods are necessary for completion of theories for evaluation of sustainable development. This can reduce blindness in the study.

Petrochemical Industry is a natural monopoly industry. How to introduce competition into Petrochemical Industry to make the development of this industry more Sustainable and efficient is a question attract the attention of all government. Based on SCP Framework, this paper analyzes statues of China's petrochemical industry. By using DEA , this paper evaluates performance of reform. Meanwhile, this paper puts forward corresponding suggestion of how to carry out policy reforms in Petrochemical Industry for the government.

Horseradish peroxidase biosensors highly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide were constructed with N-methyl phenazine as mediator and coimmobilization of N-methyl phenazine, bovine serum albumin and glutaraldehyde. The sensor possesses perfect stability and high sensitivity, and its linear range is from 1x10(-6) to 5x10(-4) mol/L with the response time of less than 10 s.